Spike-extractor



(No Model.)

A. W. MG-GASLIN.

, SPIKE EXTRAGTOR. No. 317,163. Patented-May 5,1885.

WITNESSES ATTGRN'EYS. Y

UNITED STATES vPivrnnr OFFICE.

ALBERT V. MCCASLN, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPIKE- EXTRACTO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 317,163, dated May 5, 1885.

Application filed February 19, IESS.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT W. MeCAsLIN, of Pittsburg, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Spike-Extractor, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a device for extracting railway-spikes and the invention consists, principally, of a spike-extractor provided with a pivoted claw-bar, whereby the extractor may be applied to the head of the spike and fulcrumed upon the rail or fulcrumed upon the tie for drawing the spike, according to the position of the operator.

The invention also consists of the construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the iigures..

Figure 1 shows the method of using my new spike extractor at a switch for drawing a spike between two rails, the extractor being fulcrumed upon one of the rails and arranged to start the spike. Fig. 2shows the extractor fulcrurned upon the rail and in the positionit occupies at the time the spike is withdrawn. Fig. 3 shows the extractor applied to the head of a spike and fulcrumed upon the railway-tie. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the extractor, showing the claw folded back; and Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the claw-bar removed from the extractor.

A is the foot-piece of my new and improved spike-extractor. This may be made integral with the handle B, or socketed to receive it. The foot-piece A is divided at its forward end to form two side pieces, a a, between which the claw-bar C is pivoted upon the bolt or pin b. Near the center of the lower surface of the footpiece A is journaled, in a suitable recess and upon the bolt or pin c, the roller d, that acts as an anti-friction roller upon the upper surface of the rail R when the extractor is fulerumed upon the rail, as illustrated in Figs. l and 2, to draw the spike S. The claw-bar C is formed at one end with the transverselyarranged claw e, adapted to engage with the head of a spike when the 'claw-bar is held ver- (No model.)

tically over the spike, and at the other end the claw-bar is formed with the claw f,arranged iu the direction of the length of the claw-bar, and adapted to engage with the head of a spike when presented nearly at right angles to the spike, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The claw-bar being pivoted adjacent to its longitudinal claw f, to the toe or front end of the foot A, it is adapted to be swung back under the foot-piece A for the latter purpose. i

. In line with the pivot of the claw-bar C the said bar is formed with the transverse :rib g, which serves as a bateZ or fulerum to start the spike when the extractor is used upon the tie T, as shown in Fig. 3. The spike being started the device acts like the common goose-neck spike-extractor. By constructing the-'extractor as described it will be seen that an operator-can stand in the middle of a railway-track and draw all-of the spikes-the spikes on both sides of the rails-which is of great advantage in tunnels,where there is not room outside of the rails for a lever to work, and it is also of great advantage upon bridges and trestle-works, where there is danger of getting too near the edge, and it is very use#` ful through narrow cuts and in various other places about railroads.

The extractor is strong and durable and easy to use, it only being necessary for drawing spikes upon the inside of the rail to fold the claw-bar under the foot-piece A and use the. device like an ordinary spike-extractor. u

For drawing spikes outside ofthe rail, or be tween rails at a switch, or between a guard and the main rail, the draw-bar C will be permitted to drop totheV vertical position, and the footpiece Aplaced upon the rail, and the claw e applied to the head of the spike and the spike drawn, as illustrated in Figs. l and 2. Vhen the claw-bar drops to vertical position, the flanges h abut againstthe upper surfaces, fi, of the Afoot B, so that the claw-bar is pre vented from swinging outward, thus enabling the claw e to be placed upon the head of the spike without stooping to apply it with the hands.

Having thus described my invention, I desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In a spike-extractor, the foot-piece A, in rco combination with a claw-bar pivoted to the toe or forward end thereof, and provided at its opposite ends with claws at rights angles to each other, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a spike-extractor, the foot A, in combination with the claw-bar O, provided with longitudinal and transverse claws f e at its opposite ends, and with a fulcruxn, g, ad-

ro jacent to the rear end of the claw f, said clawbar being pivoted to the toe or front of the foot A, substantially as set forth.

3. In a spike-extractor, the foot A,slotted at its front to forni toes or lugs a, in combination with the claw-bar C, provided with claws f e at right angles to Yeach other, and with flanges h on opposite sides of the claw f, the said bar being pivoted to the toes a adjacent to the rear end of the claw j', whereby the claw-bar will be prevented from swinging beyond an approximately vertical position by the contact of the toes a and flanges 71, substantially as set forth.

4. In a spike-extractor, the foot A, having the anti-friction wheel d, journaled in the under side thereof near the heel, and slotted at its front end to form lugs or toes a, in combination with the claw-bar C, forined with the claws f e at right angles to each other, and pivoted at the base of the claw f between the toes or lugs a, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. v

5. As an improved article of manufacture, a spike extractor consisting, essentially, in the handle B, foot A, provided with anti-friction roller d at its heel, and the claw-bar C,

pivoted between its toes a, and formed at its Y ALBERT lV. ADICOASLIN.

Vitn esses:

LANCE. DONEGAN, JOHN E. DIGBY. 

